The consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages has been associated with being overweight, as they tend not to give a feeling of satiety. In an 18-month randomized trial of children 5-12 years old, Dutch researchers have found that substituting sugar-free drinks for sugary drinks led to significantly smaller weight gains. They noted that U.S. children consume almost 3 times more calories from sugary drinks as the Dutch children.
PositiveTip: Sugar-free beverages, especially water, should be the drink of choice for children (and adults too).